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Old 08-20-2016, 12:02 PM   #61
fx2
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Originally Posted by tbln930 View Post
It sounds like maybe you are missing a WDH rather than anything to do with the truck.

Nope, Equal-i-zer 4 point was properly set up.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the F150. It has every option available and DW will seriously miss the massaging seats. For a daily driver it's an amazing truck. That EB has plenty of power. I had the thought of putting air bags on it and just going with it but we want to do a number of longer trips with it and I just wouldn't be comfortable with the current set up on long trips.
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Old 08-20-2016, 12:16 PM   #62
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Maybe I am misunderstanding this line. "I was riding on the bump stops off and on the whole trip". What did you mean?

I pull a 312BHDS loaded at about 9200# and have just over 3000 miles on that setup with most of it in the Ozarks. I am tickled how well it pulls up and down the small mountains and on interstates. Much of the time is camping with my wife's family using a 2015 F250 with a 6.2 diesel pulling a 39' Keystone Sprinter fifth wheel. From listening to him constantly and the problems he has had I would not trade setups.

We only camp about 30 days a year which is at most a dozen trips/tows. Towing full time would be a completely different requirement. When I first got this camper with the Husky TS Centerline the old dealer had the hitch low and the front TV axle too light. Frankly, it was a mess. We ended up two full holes up on the L brackets to get the loading correct with the new dealers tow guy plus Ford helping us. Now it tracks like an arrow at 65 mph in any condition and my wife tows about half the time. My wife and I watch setups on the road and I bet only 20% of the ones we notice (on large TTs) look properly setup. Many canted up or down at the hitch but others are just plain scary looking.

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Originally Posted by fx2 View Post
Nope, Equal-i-zer 4 point was properly set up.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the F150. It has every option available and DW will seriously miss the massaging seats. For a daily driver it's an amazing truck. That EB has plenty of power. I had the thought of putting air bags on it and just going with it but we want to do a number of longer trips with it and I just wouldn't be comfortable with the current set up on long trips.
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Old 08-20-2016, 12:34 PM   #63
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Originally Posted by tbln930 View Post
Maybe I am misunderstanding this line. "I was riding on the bump stops off and on the whole trip". What did you mean?

I pull a 312BHDS loaded at about 9200# and have just over 3000 miles on that setup with most of it in the Ozarks. I am tickled how well it pulls up and down the small mountains and on interstates. Much of the time is camping with my wife's family using a 2015 F250 with a 6.2 diesel pulling a 39' Keystone Sprinter fifth wheel. From listening to him constantly and the problems he has had I would not trade setups.

We only camp about 30 days a year which is at most a dozen trips/tows. Towing full time would be a completely different requirement.
1st time I heard of not liking pulling a 5er with a diesel. Just me but I'd go back to a Class A before a bumper pull again.
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Old 08-20-2016, 12:37 PM   #64
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I pulled a TT w/ a F150, v-8 moved up to a F250 v-8 it was alot better, for a TT, w/ the 5th wheel I got (38 footer) I moved on up to a f350, daully w/ a v10 and 430 gears, get aroung 10 to 11 mpg at 70 to 75 , w/ a diesel, wife didnt like the smell, plus it messes up a leather interior. I used the 350 towing a boat too, didnt want to go to 2 different npumps to get fuel
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Old 08-20-2016, 12:38 PM   #65
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Originally Posted by tbln930 View Post
Maybe I am misunderstanding this line. "I was riding on the bump stops off and on the whole trip". What did you mean?

I pull a 312BHDS loaded at about 9200# and have just over 3000 miles on that setup with most of it in the Ozarks. I am tickled how well it pulls up and down the small mountains and on interstates. Much of the time is camping with my wife's family using a 2015 F250 with a 6.2 diesel pulling a 39' Keystone Sprinter fifth wheel. From listening to him constantly and the problems he has had I would not trade setups.

We only camp about 30 days a year which is at most a dozen trips/tows. Towing full time would be a completely different requirement. When I first got this camper with the Husky TS Centerline the old dealer had the hitch low and the front TV axle too light. Frankly, it was a mess. We ended up two full holes up on the L brackets to get the loading correct with the new dealers tow guy. Now it tracks like an arrow at 65 mph in any condition and my wife tows about half the time.

Most of the time I have no issue with short, close trips. When taking a longer trip for dry camping and having the water full and generator loaded it's too much. Keep in mind the weight of 45 gallons of water, along with the 110 lbs of generator (plus fuel for the generator) adds a lot of weight I don't normally pull with. The truck pulls the trailer fine without all of that but when adding the weight in it makes for a rough, uncomfortable trip.
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Old 08-20-2016, 12:45 PM   #66
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I have a 2016 F150 with the EcoBoost and Max Tow... I was riding on the bump stops... Up and down the grades I averaged 6.1 MPG.
IMO folks ordering a new F150 should opt for the HD frame upgrade, not just the more common max tow upgrade. Compared to construction trailers, boats, etc. TT's have more surface area (and length) that can change the dynamics in a hurry, so a stiffer rear-end is required for a good experience. I would not feel safe routinely towing our 8,000 lb. TT with anything less than the F150 w/HD payload upgrade (which I consider an entry-level 3/4 ton....)

Most gas engines only get around 8 mpg towing on flat surfaces, less in the hills & the EB is no exception... However, in 2013 I only paid $14K for a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC w/balance of warranty whereas used 2 year-old stripped-down diesels were still around $35K & a new EB w/HD upgrade was over $40K. That $20K+ saved buys a LOT of gas & I still get 16-17 mpg on my daily commute.

I have driven/maintained more diesels than most w/former employers. I agree that diesels make a better TV, period. Bigger is better when you have 4+ tons behind you. However, I don't think everyone needs them for an 8,000 lb. TT if you have enough payload & correct tires for the task combined with a WDH & brake controller dialed-in properly.
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Old 08-20-2016, 03:03 PM   #67
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I agree with the HD upgrade on a newly ordered F150. Why not? It expands the capabilities while retaining the better ride characteristics for the most part.

My RV dealer service guy thinks some on here may be trying to justify their truck upgrades like they had to - to their wives. Some have gone through two or three or more trucks in a very short time frame until they found one they liked or felt comfortable with. lol
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Old 08-20-2016, 05:21 PM   #68
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I don't tow that often, 5-6 times a year, but do plan on taking longer trips into the Rockies. I will also use this truck for a 45-55 minute commute to work. From what I've read here, leaning to 2017 250 with gas. I don't see a 5th wheel in my future (for several years anyway, retirement). 2016 diesels are enticing with discounts.
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Old 08-20-2016, 05:22 PM   #69
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F150 or F250

Just went through this decision myself and purchased a 2013 F350 lariat long bed with the 6.2L gas engine. Moved up from a 3/4 ton Suburban. RV weight is just under 9k and is 35'. Made the decision to go with gas primarily because it was all I needed and fit the budget. F350 can tow up to 12k and it has a payload of over 3k to carry things in the truck bed like a motorcycle. Like the long bed for extra carry capacity and the longer wheel base. Spent the last 3 weeks in Colorado and Wyoming and truck worked great. Handled the passes fine - although RPMs are high - some passes downshifted to 2nd to get over them. Gas mileage also not as good as diesel. Averaged 9.1 pulling the RV so no complaints.


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Old 08-22-2016, 05:58 PM   #70
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Just went through this decision myself and purchased a 2013 F350 lariat long bed with the 6.2L gas engine. Moved up from a 3/4 ton Suburban. RV weight is just under 9k and is 35'. Made the decision to go with gas primarily because it was all I needed and fit the budget. F350 can tow up to 12k and it has a payload of over 3k to carry things in the truck bed like a motorcycle. Like the long bed for extra carry capacity and the longer wheel base. Spent the last 3 weeks in Colorado and Wyoming and truck worked great. Handled the passes fine - although RPMs are high - some passes downshifted to 2nd to get over them. Gas mileage also not as good as diesel. Averaged 9.1 pulling the RV so no complaints.


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On those big hills, "M" on the shifter comes in real handy. Just like "-" in "D" mode, you can restrict the top gear to any you want. In addition, "M" prevents a downshift... which allows you to give it all the pedal you want while staying in the same gear. Once you start to really know your truck, this can be quite nice.


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Old 08-22-2016, 07:57 PM   #71
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On those big hills, "M" on the shifter comes in real handy. Just like "-" in "D" mode, you can restrict the top gear to any you want. In addition, "M" prevents a downshift... which allows you to give it all the pedal you want while staying in the same gear. Once you start to really know your truck, this can be quite nice.


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Exactly. I've only experienced one situation with my truck where it is in a "high RPM" mode while towing (over 3000 RPMs). It occurs in 3rd gear when it got there via a heavy throttle condition, such as a fast acceleration to merge or pushing VERY hard on a hill. The aggravating part, if at all, is you have to back way out of the throttle to get it to shift up when you can clearly see the terrain has eased. As you mentioned, a simple manual up-shift takes care of that if you are bothered by it until it shifts on its own.

What we see ahead of us provides a much better shift indicator than the sensors on the engine or transmission, which will always lag the best time to shift.

Yeah, I like to "drive" my truck. I've owned one since I was 18, and refused to get an automatic until I was almost 50 years old. 😀


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